The East Australian Current, made famous by the Disney movie Finding Nemo, is a large scale flow of water that runs south along the east coast of
Australia. It sweeps warm tropical waters from the Coral Sea southwards to interact with the cool temperate waters of the Tasman Sea.
The East Australian Current is a large-scale flow of water that runs south along the east coast of Australia. It sweeps warm tropical waters from the Coral Sea southwards to interact with the cool temperate waters of the Tasman Sea. It varies in size and can be between 15km-100km wide and 200m-500m deep and can flow at speeds of up to 4kts.
How Does The EAC Work?
The prevailing winds of the South Pacific Ocean create an anti-clockwise circulation of water with the assistance of the Coriolis effect (the rotation of the Earth).
The EAC is created by the water that flows toward the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. The current then wanders south along the east coast of Australia.
Eddies and fluctuations
As the current curves along the coast eddies are created - swirling pools of water that rotate clockwise or anti-clockwise from or within the main flow of the current. The core of an eddy can flow in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction depending on temperature (cool or warm respectively).
There is quite a lot of variation in the current along the coast as a result of coastal and oceanic processes, changes in the continental shelf and seasonal fluctuations.
The prevailing winds of the South Pacific Ocean create an anti-clockwise circulation of water with the assistance of the Coriolis effect (the rotation of the Earth). The East Australian Current is created by the water that flows toward the edge of the Pacific Ocean.1 It is also referred to as the ‘Western Boundary Current of the South Pacific Ocean’. The current then meanders south along the east coast of Australia.
Eddies are created as the current curves and a swirling pool of fluid rotates clockwise or anti-clockwise within/ from the main flow. The core of an eddy may be warm (anti-clockwise) or cool (clockwise) and affect the transfer of physical properties of seawater such as nutrients, temperature and salinity. The East Australian Current varies in size and can be between 15–100km wide, 200– 500m deep and flow at speeds of up to 4 knots.1,2 There is much variation in the current along the coast, as a result of coastal and oceanic processes, changes in the continental shelf and seasonal fluctuations
-Shawn Owens
Citations
The East Australian Current. (2011). Retrieved October 25, 2013, from griffith.edu.au
East Australian Current. (2011, December). In Tidetech News. Retrieved October 26, 2013, from tidetech.org
Photo Citations
Victoria, M. (Photographer). (2011). Hitching A Ride On The East Australian Current. [Image of photograph]. Retrieved November 4, 2013, from http://gaicharisma.com
What Is The EAC?
The East Australian Current, made famous by the Disney movie Finding Nemo, is a large scale flow of water that runs south along the east coast of
Australia. It sweeps warm tropical waters from the Coral Sea southwards to interact with the cool temperate waters of the Tasman Sea.
The East Australian Current is a large-scale flow of water that runs south along the east coast of Australia. It sweeps warm tropical waters from the Coral Sea southwards to interact with the cool temperate waters of the Tasman Sea. It varies in size and can be between 15km-100km wide and 200m-500m deep and can flow at speeds of up to 4kts.
How Does The EAC Work?
The prevailing winds of the South Pacific Ocean create an anti-clockwise circulation of water with the assistance of the Coriolis effect (the rotation of the Earth).
The EAC is created by the water that flows toward the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. The current then wanders south along the east coast of Australia.
Eddies and fluctuations
As the current curves along the coast eddies are created - swirling pools of water that rotate clockwise or anti-clockwise from or within the main flow of the current. The core of an eddy can flow in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction depending on temperature (cool or warm respectively).
There is quite a lot of variation in the current along the coast as a result of coastal and oceanic processes, changes in the continental shelf and seasonal fluctuations.
The prevailing winds of the South Pacific Ocean create an anti-clockwise circulation of water with the assistance of the Coriolis effect (the rotation of the Earth). The East Australian Current is created by the water that flows toward the edge of the Pacific Ocean.1 It is also referred to as the ‘Western Boundary Current of the South Pacific Ocean’. The current then meanders south along the east coast of Australia.
Eddies are created as the current curves and a swirling pool of fluid rotates clockwise or anti-clockwise within/ from the main flow. The core of an eddy may be warm (anti-clockwise) or cool (clockwise) and affect the transfer of physical properties of seawater such as nutrients, temperature and salinity. The East Australian Current varies in size and can be between 15–100km wide, 200– 500m deep and flow at speeds of up to 4 knots.1,2 There is much variation in the current along the coast, as a result of coastal and oceanic processes, changes in the continental shelf and seasonal fluctuations
-Shawn Owens
Citations
The East Australian Current. (2011). Retrieved October 25, 2013, from griffith.edu.au
East Australian Current. (2011, December). In Tidetech News. Retrieved October 26, 2013, from tidetech.org
Photo Citations
Victoria, M. (Photographer). (2011). Hitching A Ride On The East Australian Current. [Image of photograph]. Retrieved November 4, 2013, from http://gaicharisma.com
[Image of photograph]. Retrieved November 4, 2013, from http://www.reec.nsw.edu.au/k6/page/cc20.htm
[Image of photograph]. Retrieved November 4, 2013, from http://research.vancouver.wsu.edu/stephen-henderson/three-dimensional-surfzone-eddies
[Image of photograph]. Retrieved November 4, 2013, from http://cheezburger.com/1534246144